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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. can — a tin
  7. bank — of a river
  8. can — a tin
  9. root — the cause
  10. wound — an injury
  11. ball — a great time
  12. plane — a tool
  13. can — to be able to
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. root — of a plant
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. wound — an injury
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. bank — for money
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. root — of a word
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. bank — for money

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com